Station fire has no effect on cases vs Caloocan cops — DOJ

MANILA — A ranking official of the Department of Justice said yesterday that a fire that destroyed records at the Caloocan City Police Station will have no effect on pending cases on teenage killings it is handling.

Justice Undersecretary Erickson Balmes, in a text message to Philstar.com, stressed that "as of now, it will have no effect as the case is now pending with DOJ."

Police Senior Superintendent Jemar Modequillo, Caloocan city police chief, said records of cases, including suspected extrajudicial killings and deaths under investigation, are not completely lost as there are copies at the Northern Police District headquarters, which is also in the city.

State prosecutors handling the preliminary investigation have deemed the three cases of teenage killings linked to the Caloocan police submitted for resolution.

Members of the Caloocan police were named as respondents in the killings of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos, 19-yearold Carl Arnaiz, and 14-year old Reynaldo "Kulot" De Guzman. Their killings are believed to have happened in the context of the government's drug war.

Criticism of the government's crackdown on drugs, which had subsided in early 2017, reignited with the deaths of the three teenagers in August.

The Public Attorney's Office served as counsel for the families of the slain teenagers.

PAO Chief Persida Acosta, in a text message, also assured the public that the cases against the cops "remain strong" despite the fire.

On October 27, the DOJ wrapped up its preliminary investigation into the case of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos, a student killed in a police anti-drug operation on August 16.

Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo, PO2 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremiah Pereda and PO1 Jerwin Cruz of the Caloocan Police Community Precinct 7 are respondents in the Delos Santos case.

The four Caloocan cops, in their counter-affidavit, insist that Delos Santos was killed in a legitimate police operation.

"If only Kian Delos Santos did not engage our police officers in a shootout, that tragic incident would not have happened," they said.